The news is a stark contrast to that of this time last year when the company was still reeling from the effects of strike action in South Africa’s mining sector, where much of the company’s iron ore and platinum activities occur.
Anglo’s production report for the December quarter was well received by investors, particular figures that highlighted record quarterly copper output, an increase in the amount of tonnes mined from metallurgical coal mines and increased diamond production. The report also sent the company’s London and Johannesburg-listed shares up by some six percent.
Figures of particular significant showed production from its Kumba Iron Ore Ltd unit, which it holds a 70 percent majority stake in, increased 25 percent from last year to 11.3Mt. Meanwhile, platinum equivalent refined production across the business experienced the same level of gain, with ounces produced increasing to 520,300oz, while diamond production also increased by 13 percent to 9.1Mct following increased output at Jwaneng in Botswana and higher grades at Orapa in Botswana and Venetia in South Africa
Across the Atlantic Ocean, Anglo’s copper output increased 24 percent to 214,000 tonnes thanks to a strong performance at its Los Bronces mine and higher grades at Collahuasi, both in Chile.
